Dubai, March 1, 2026, 12:30 GST — Market closed.
- Dubai’s DFM General Index last closed down 1.83% on Friday, with market breadth tilted to decliners.
- Gulf stocks slid on Sunday after strikes involving Iran, the U.S. and Israel, keeping risk appetite fragile.
- Oil, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and flight disruption are set to steer positioning into Monday’s Dubai session.
Dubai stocks head into Monday with the Gulf in a fresh security shock, after markets across the region slid on Sunday following strikes involving Iran, the United States and Israel. “Geopolitical tension drives a risk-off mood,” said Hani Abuagla, senior market analyst at XTB MENA, adding that further escalation “could deepen the sell-off.” 1
On the Dubai Financial Market, the DFM General Index last closed at 6,503.50 points on Friday, down 1.83% on the day. Turnover was about 2.09 billion dirhams, with 29 stocks down versus 16 up, DFM market data showed. 2
The timing matters because Dubai had already been sliding on geopolitical nerves before the weekend escalation. Dubai’s main index fell 1.8% on Friday, its second weekly decline, dragged down by a 4.1% drop in Emaar Properties, while Emirates NBD Bank and Dubai Islamic Bank fell 5.2% and 2.4%, respectively, Reuters reported. 3
Oil is the other fast-moving input. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is in focus after firms and tanker operators suspended or adjusted cargo movements, Reuters reported, while Iran declared the strait closed to navigation. Investors will also be watching the outcome of the March 1 meeting of the eight OPEC+ producers, after sources told Reuters the group may consider a larger production increase than previously expected; OPEC has flagged the March 1 meeting date. (OPEC+ is the expanded OPEC group that includes allies such as Russia; bpd means barrels per day.) 4
Air travel disruption is feeding into the Dubai trading picture too, with the city’s airport activity a bellwether for sentiment around tourism and services. Air Arabia said on social media its flights to Iran, Iraq and other parts of the region were cancelled on Saturday, Khaleej Times reported, with the airline warning of reroutes and delays on other services. 5
On the local corporate tape, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s newly filed audited consolidated accounts for 2025 showed revenue of about 32.84 billion dirhams and profit for the year of about 9.06 billion dirhams. The utility is a heavyweight in Dubai trading and tends to draw defensive flows when risk appetite fades. 6
Traders also flagged market mechanics after interruptions late last week. ADIB Securities noted DFM suspended trading in DEWA and Gulf Navigation shares during board meetings on Feb. 27, with DEWA resuming after disclosures. 7
Governance items will share space with the macro noise. Air Arabia disclosed nominees for board membership on Feb. 27 in a filing on the DFM disclosures system. 8
The first test is simply liquidity at the open. Dubai trades Monday to Friday, with the regular session running 10:00 to 14:45 local time, and the market reopens on March 2. 9
Banks and property names usually steer the index in fast markets, and both groups took the hit on Friday’s risk-off pullback. If oil spikes again and regional headlines keep coming, investors may keep leaning to cash and the more defensive names.
But there is a two-way risk. A quick easing in tensions — or even a partial reopening of air routes — could bring bargain buying back into Dubai’s large caps, especially if oil settles and volatility ebbs.
